Spiritual Fiction & Poetry - Spiritual Fiction -
☞Healed and Whole
Waiting around is never very interesting, Peter thought. But, Jesus had told them to wait. He specifically told them to wait for the power that had been promised. There were about 120 of them waiting there upstairs. Not only were the 11 chosen apostles there, and the larger group of 70 disciples that Jesus had sent out on the missionary journeys to prepare the way before him, but about 39 more followers, and members of his earthly family, such as James his brother who had not followed Jesus in His lifetime. Then, of course there were the women, because this census never counted the women.
“What do we do while you wait?” he mumbled to himself. He was a man of action... a fisherman. They had been studying Scriptures, looking through the prophecies, looking for answers, because God knows they had questions! Suddenly, Peter realized what they must do. The prophecies in Psalms had said that someone else should take the betrayer's place. So, they needed to fill up this empty spot.
***Note: Acts 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his office let another take. Psalm 109:8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
How did they fill the empty seat, the empty office, the empty spot in their midst? They spoke, they chose two, and they put them before the Lord, and they prayed. Then they drew lots, like casting dice and drawing for the short straw. They trusted that God would let the correct outcome take place in the random act. Matthias was chosen. Now they were ready, sighed Peter. And, so they waited.
*****
He lay there, squinting his eyes against the sun that was beginning to rise in the sky, outside the beautiful Golden Gate on the eastern side of the temple. They had to carry him so far to get to the temple every morning, that by the time he arrived, he was already disheveled, and tired. No matter. He had time to rest now, as he was powerless to move any further than he could drag his dead worthless legs. He had all the time in the world, like a prisoner sentenced to chains, his days had been arrested from birth, born crippled, a man child. And, what kind of man was he?
One of the passers-by stopped at that moment and tossed a coin in his hat, before shuffling along through the busy gate. Here he lay outside the gate, and here he saw all the most newsworthy events of his day. That perhaps was all he was valued for, the news that he brought back home to his mother's household. He was reduced to a groveling, begging, newsboy, and the gossip was likely more valuable to those who listened to him than the measly few coins he contributed to his upkeep.
As he lay there on the lovely stonework, watching the well-dressed men and women come and go, he marveled at what it must be like, the independence of walking about; what it must be like to go beyond Solomon's Porch, on beyond the Court of the Women. What would it be like to be able to take his place there with the men of Israel? He was sure he might never know. He had hoped for a while, at least when he had heard news of the Healer who had been in town. He laid there waiting almost every day of his life, over four decades, just waiting for the day to end. This Healer never seemed to appear. Then suddenly He knew the man was coming through, could tell from the noise, and the shouts of Hosanna, yet then he hadn't been able to see Him there for the crowd. Oh, but he heard all about how he had ridden right past him on a donkey. He had been proclaimed as the long-awaited Messiah by many. But, he hadn't seen anything at all. Then he had heard of the crucifixion. Any hopes he had maintained had fizzled out after news reached him of the violent execution.
Raising his hands and extending them out before him, he marked off the hours remaining to the day with his hands. Every hand width marked two more hours till sunset. Ooohhh! It would never end. He hated the waiting more than anything. And, what was he waiting for anyways? Would he ever have the power and strength to walk away from this gate? Or, was he waiting for another day just like today?
** Note: Acts 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
*****
Amid the deafening silence, and the crowded bodies clustered around the small room, the men all stared as if by consensus at the one empty spot where he had sat. No one mentioned the spot for a time. They just sat there smothered in the gloom of the memories of all that had transpired. They were angry; each of them. This wolf in sheep's clothing had lived among them. He had carried the bag. He knew them well. He had been with them when they ate the dropped gleanings from the fields of the Israelites, as allowed for the poor, like homeless men.
No one thought about Thomas' doubting, or Peter's denial, or the way John Mark fled from the garden naked when the guards showed up to take Jesus in for trial. It was easier to bear the waiting without looking at their own faults. Jesus was gone, and surely someone else was to blame. This missing spot weighed so heavily on their minds, when they weren't in prayer that the only action they took was to replace Judas, the betrayer. Yes, they wanted to make sure that his post was given to another. That's exactly what he deserved, as the prophecies stated.
* Note: Nothing is recorded in history about Matthias. We hear about the ministries and deaths of the other 11, and about Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles. Isn't that odd? Paul replaced Judas. Paul took the empty seat. Paul counted himself as one born out of season. He planted more churches than all the others, and wrote two-thirds of the New Testament. And, he figured in the telling of about half of the book of Acts. But, nowhere do we see Jesus' response to the men waiting in the Upper Room.
All we know was Jesus said wait. The only action they took was to vote on a replacement for Judas. This is neither commanded, nor rebuked, but simply a human decision based on a desire to speed their interpretation of Scripture. They wanted to see his post taken by another. And, they drew straws. Though not considered right or wrong, the action showed impatience when told to simply wait.
Acts 1:13-14 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
*****
Heads bent together, the four slender girls stumbled along the road, so lost in a discussion that they really were not watching where they were going. They were sisters, and the children of a prophet. Their father, Philip was chosen as a Deacon by the early church in Jerusalem, one of the seven deacons. There had been death threats. It was no surprise that they were concerned about the safety of their father. But, their father was not the subject of conversation on this trip to the temple. As they approached the Golden Gate, the beauty went unnoticed, as well as the lovely sunrise peeking over the horizon, which gave it that golden glow.
"A sad state of affairs it is for our people when the men folk are all in hiding!" the youngest of these young ladies exclaimed.
"I don't think you fully understand the nature of a death threat, Sister." Her eldest sister chided her calmly. "Besides, God has a plan, and I know he is thinking about His people. He promised in the prophecies of Joel that He would send a 'former and a latter rain' to bless us with His bounty."
"Yes, piped up the nearest the youngest in years." All we have to do is plant the seed, and God will send the Autumn rains first to make it sprout, and then in the Spring, the Spring rains He send make the harvest a bounty of providence."
The remaining sister listened quietly, seeming to ponder these words. She didn't know how to ask the question that was sitting so heavily on her heart. She was puzzled over the fact that the Messiah had been crucified, and resurrected, and then had ascended back into the clouds, just like that. So she just listened, as they were jostled in the crowds coming and going.
"But, God promised He would 'drive away the Northern armies.' Why do these Romans continue to plague us?! Oh, how could God be so late in sending us the hope we've waited for? Why did Jesus leave again, if He was resurrected from the grave? When will we ever see the throne of David raised again in the Temple! Why must it take so long?!" protested the youngest child again.
These four young girls had a reputation for being prophetesses, yet something missed their vision even more than the Scripture they were mulling over at the moment. Suddenly, the silent one found herself flung out on the pavement there at the gate. Dazed, and not yet aware of what had happened, she tried to focus her eyes on the scene around her again, and then she realized it was just the crippled beggar who lay at the gate. She had fallen over his feet and knocked over his hat full of coins in her carelessness.
Scurrying onto her knees, with her robes wrapped tightly around her, she began to clasp after the coins as they rolled across the pavement, muttering repeated apologies. Her sisters around her pulled her to her feet without saying a word, for now they had been shocked into silence. There sat the poor beggar just as calmly as if nothing had happened. He had not felt a thing anyways, seeing that his legs were paralyzed. But, he had been just as taken by surprise by them as they had by him. He had heard their approach, but was so engrossed in their argument that he sat there aghast at the things they were saying. They were such innocent looking young Jewish girls arguing about the prophecies of the scrolls! And, they were talking about Jesus, the Healer. What did they know about Jesus or a Messiah? They were not even allowed into the inner sanctuary, but were kept behind the wall of partition for the women. How could they speak such things so boldly? Didn't they know the Romans had crucified this Jesus, and that they had the power to dispel these 'stories' of His resurrection?
The eldest girl reached into the folds of her robes, withdrew the few coins she had, and tossed them into the man's hat. Then with a humble bow, and diverting her stare, she gathered her sisters through the gate. But, glancing back over her shoulder, she noticed he still sat there as if nothing had even happened. Turning again to her sisters, she reminded them of the hour. "It's the hour of prayer, come on now, hurry! All of these questions will just have to wait!"
*****
Deep in prayer, walking in short steps around the perimeter of the crowded room, the man cried out desperately to His God. "Jesus, where are you?! You said we should wait, but we have been waiting ten days in this tiny room. The men are afraid to come and go. We cower like dogs, and have no vision for what we should do next. I don't know why you chose me. Am I not a fisherman, an uneducated fisherman? What will you have me to do?"
As he passed the doorway, he heard the shuffling of feet on the stairs. His heart skipped a beat as he heard the knock at the door. But, the voice of Philip's oldest girl came softly through the wall. It was the four of them returning from the Temple. He was amazed that some of the women continued to come and go; to the market to fetch their meals, to the well to haul water, and to the Temple to pray. Yes, it was about 9:00 in the morning already, and here they were returning. As he unbarred the door, they slipped inside and took up their spots with the others in the vigil. He noticed the younger child take up her harp, and she began to strum softly the words of David.
...The LORD said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand,
...until I make your enemies your footstool.
...The LORD will extend your powerful kingdom from Jerusalem;
...you will rule over your enemies.
...Your people are willing
...in the day of your power,
...in the beauty of holiness
...from the womb of the morning
...your strength will renew us each day like the morning dew.
...The LORD has sworn, and will not relent, You are a priest forever, Jesus...
A hush fell over the room as the words and music of the child faded and the sunlight, now climbing in the sky, flooded through the darkened window. It was a holy hush. An unseen hand seemed to lay gently on every stooped shoulder. A sigh wrenched loose from Mother Mary. John fell flat on his face, prostrate in the floor. But no one seemed to take notice of his brother. Peter suddenly broke into a mad dash around the room, and the others were waving their arms toward heaven as the Spirit of God was poured out in their hearts and souls. The visible, tangible presence of God was so real, you could almost touch it. The room was suddenly in such a passionate fervor that it seemed like tongues of fire rested over their heads. Everyone in the room began to praise God and speak in languages they had never learned.
The men were the first ones out the door of the crowded room. They danced down the steps and out into the streets which were bustling with the mid-morning festival crowds of the Pentecost Feast celebrating the giving of the Ten Commandments. Some called this Whit's Sunday. But, the locals were taken by surprise by the surge of the Apostles out into the streets, shouting in gibberish. Some of them exclaimed that these were apparently celebrating the holiday too hard and were drunk. But, others recognized their own foreign languages coming from the mouths of these worshipers, and realized they were speaking different tongues.
Peter gathered the other 11 disciples together and, like any anointed young preacher without a pulpit will preach wherever he can find a crowd, he began to preach right there on the street corner.
"Men, brothers, we are not drunk on wine. It's not even late enough in the day for men to be drinking yet. This is the promise that God gave us in the Scriptures, in the prophecies of Joel. Joel said that God would pour out His Holy Spirit on all people, and our sons and daughters would prophesy, and our young men would see visions, and our old men would dream dreams. He promised signs and wonders would follow, and that whoever shall call on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Peter preached on with the sun beating down on his back, on into the afternoon. Sweat poured from his forehead, as he danced in the Spirit, calling on each person in the crowd to come to pray. One by one, the men in the crowd came forward and fell on their knees before the Apostles asking what to do about their sin. Peter stood up and gave the answer...
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
By the time the day had ended, three thousand of them had been baptized. But, more than that, the long awaited power that Jesus had promised had now been given. No more did they cower in a hidden room. No, these men of God were emboldened to preach the word without fear. Just as Jesus had promised, "But you shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. "
***Notes- Scripture References as follows:
The Harp Song Psalm 110:1-4 (NKJV+NLT mixed)
Peter's answer Acts 2:38,
Jesus' parting promise Acts 1:8
Acts 2:1-2 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
*****
Carried! His Mother had carried him nine months, and for the four decades since, he had been carried by most of his relatives at different times. He was gaunt, and lean, never having much interest in the festivities and meal times. He spent all day, every day, laying outside the temple, watching people. Food was the last thing on his mind when he got home. When the table was spread, even before his mother had the food finished, he talked, filling her ears with all the busyness of the city and the temple. Her eyes twinkled as she busied herself with the evening meal, listening to the animated voice of her firstborn, the family story teller. She loved him so, and would have carried him till the day he died if he needed her.
He enjoyed this attention, reveled in it. He loved to hear the sound of his voice, to see her eyes dart toward him intent on each word, to hear her catch her breath in surprise at some surprising bit of his stories. He always felt no one really listened to him at the temple gate. God-fearers! They seemed to be more afraid to meet the gaze of a scrawny crippled man, than of the God they professed to revere! No, they were careful to not look into his eyes and see his pain, for then they might have to hear his voice crying out for alms. They may even have to ante up on the challenge of their faith. That might be too much religion for them, he was sure.
Turning his head toward to gate, he noticed that a crowd was gathering, and the sun reminded him that it was almost the hour of prayer. Collecting his hat in his wispy, twisted fingers, he noted that he had been remiss in calling out for much of the past hour as he daydreamed. With an exasperated voice, he began a desperate call, intending to make up for lost time in the rush hour crowd. “Alms, alms! Help me please kind lady! Sir, throw a cent for a poor beggar like myself! Dear family, has God blessed you? Then share with the likes of me! Help me, please!” No one seemed to be paying him any attention at all, and they scurried past the faster. So, he called out even louder. “Alms, please, alms! Help me! I am but a poor beggar! Look at me… take pity! Lend me your hearts. Alms, please…please sir!”
With those last words, the beggar had felt the swish of a man’s cloak as he stopped in his tracks, and turned toward him. Finally! Someone was listening to him. Looking deep into the kind man’s eyes, the beggar smiled and held out his hat in his left hand, expecting to receive a gift. “Look at us! I have nothing made out of silver or gold, but I will give you what I have… in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk!”
Then the man did the strangest thing, right there in front of his friend and the others who had paused to see the exchange. He reached out his right hand to the crippled beggar. As their fingers touched, the crippled man felt a surge of power course straight through his body to the soles of his feet. His hat fell to the ground, coins rolling across the pavement and landing at the feet of people who were by this point standing stark still, motionless with their mouths open! Suddenly, his feet and ankles felt strong…stronger than they had ever felt in his life.
Leaping up, as if on the end of a taught strand of cord, he stood straight upright, walked three steps forward as the giver stepped back, and bending at the knees he leaped… sling-shotted into the air. Landing on one foot, he broke into a mad dash before the other ever hit the ground. Running from one side of the courtyard to the other, he slapped several folks on the back, threw his arms around the necks of others, and spun them around before dancing off across the courtyard again… around and around he ran in circles. The crowd that had gathered now was laughing, as his joy contagiously coursed through them. Had they not seen him day after day? Was this not the lame man who sat at the gates begging for his keep?
A surge of shock was rippling through the crowd, as the news spread to those who were already inside the temple. “It’s the lame man…you know… the beggar by the gate… he’s walking!” The words reverberated through the temple courtyard, and penetrated deep into the temple, where some who heard could not believe their ears. It was the religious teachers and leaders of the temple. They debated among themselves what was to be done about the fact that the miracles were not over with; had not died with the Healer.
Meanwhile, the beggar had wrapped his arms around the givers, for they were two of the disciples of Jesus, Peter and John themselves. As he hugged them, and cried for joy, they led him towards the temple, laughing for joy. By the time they got as far as Solomon’s Porch, a crowd was thronging them, with everyone aghast at the miracle they had just witnessed. It was too much to believe. They had known this man for more than forty years… they knew his family. He was crippled!
The young preacher Peter realized that people were shocked at the sight of a man healed with such miraculous explosive power, and began to explain how he had not been the one at all to heal him…Jesus had healed the man. Jesus was no longer dead. He had arisen, and his power had been given to his followers to heal the sick. As he preached, to the crowds, several ladies were beginning to come back out of the court of the women to see what was happening. Among them were the four daughters of Phillip, and the ladies from “the Way.” Hours passed as the men preached, and many were converted to the faith. Then the religious teachers and leaders of the temple came out of the temple, and insisted that the crowd be broken up. Hearing with their own ears the name of Jesus, that terrorist rebel they themselves had crucified just weeks before, they seized the young preachers and hauled them off to spend the night in jail. But, the men of the young movement gathered together another 5,000 believers from the crowds that day.
One of those was the beggar, a changed man! He ran all the way home to tell his family the good news. And, who knows what great work he did for the kingdom of God, after experiencing the dynamite power of Jesus Christ in his hand, and feet, and heart, and health?!
***Notes: Related Scriptures used to build the telling.
Joel 2:23 Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he has given you the former rain faithfully, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. (NKJV)
Acts 3:25 You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. (NKJV)
Acts 21:8-9 The next day we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen to distribute food. He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy. (NLT)
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (NKJV)
“What do we do while you wait?” he mumbled to himself. He was a man of action... a fisherman. They had been studying Scriptures, looking through the prophecies, looking for answers, because God knows they had questions! Suddenly, Peter realized what they must do. The prophecies in Psalms had said that someone else should take the betrayer's place. So, they needed to fill up this empty spot.
***Note: Acts 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his office let another take. Psalm 109:8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
How did they fill the empty seat, the empty office, the empty spot in their midst? They spoke, they chose two, and they put them before the Lord, and they prayed. Then they drew lots, like casting dice and drawing for the short straw. They trusted that God would let the correct outcome take place in the random act. Matthias was chosen. Now they were ready, sighed Peter. And, so they waited.
*****
He lay there, squinting his eyes against the sun that was beginning to rise in the sky, outside the beautiful Golden Gate on the eastern side of the temple. They had to carry him so far to get to the temple every morning, that by the time he arrived, he was already disheveled, and tired. No matter. He had time to rest now, as he was powerless to move any further than he could drag his dead worthless legs. He had all the time in the world, like a prisoner sentenced to chains, his days had been arrested from birth, born crippled, a man child. And, what kind of man was he?
One of the passers-by stopped at that moment and tossed a coin in his hat, before shuffling along through the busy gate. Here he lay outside the gate, and here he saw all the most newsworthy events of his day. That perhaps was all he was valued for, the news that he brought back home to his mother's household. He was reduced to a groveling, begging, newsboy, and the gossip was likely more valuable to those who listened to him than the measly few coins he contributed to his upkeep.
As he lay there on the lovely stonework, watching the well-dressed men and women come and go, he marveled at what it must be like, the independence of walking about; what it must be like to go beyond Solomon's Porch, on beyond the Court of the Women. What would it be like to be able to take his place there with the men of Israel? He was sure he might never know. He had hoped for a while, at least when he had heard news of the Healer who had been in town. He laid there waiting almost every day of his life, over four decades, just waiting for the day to end. This Healer never seemed to appear. Then suddenly He knew the man was coming through, could tell from the noise, and the shouts of Hosanna, yet then he hadn't been able to see Him there for the crowd. Oh, but he heard all about how he had ridden right past him on a donkey. He had been proclaimed as the long-awaited Messiah by many. But, he hadn't seen anything at all. Then he had heard of the crucifixion. Any hopes he had maintained had fizzled out after news reached him of the violent execution.
Raising his hands and extending them out before him, he marked off the hours remaining to the day with his hands. Every hand width marked two more hours till sunset. Ooohhh! It would never end. He hated the waiting more than anything. And, what was he waiting for anyways? Would he ever have the power and strength to walk away from this gate? Or, was he waiting for another day just like today?
** Note: Acts 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
*****
Amid the deafening silence, and the crowded bodies clustered around the small room, the men all stared as if by consensus at the one empty spot where he had sat. No one mentioned the spot for a time. They just sat there smothered in the gloom of the memories of all that had transpired. They were angry; each of them. This wolf in sheep's clothing had lived among them. He had carried the bag. He knew them well. He had been with them when they ate the dropped gleanings from the fields of the Israelites, as allowed for the poor, like homeless men.
No one thought about Thomas' doubting, or Peter's denial, or the way John Mark fled from the garden naked when the guards showed up to take Jesus in for trial. It was easier to bear the waiting without looking at their own faults. Jesus was gone, and surely someone else was to blame. This missing spot weighed so heavily on their minds, when they weren't in prayer that the only action they took was to replace Judas, the betrayer. Yes, they wanted to make sure that his post was given to another. That's exactly what he deserved, as the prophecies stated.
* Note: Nothing is recorded in history about Matthias. We hear about the ministries and deaths of the other 11, and about Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles. Isn't that odd? Paul replaced Judas. Paul took the empty seat. Paul counted himself as one born out of season. He planted more churches than all the others, and wrote two-thirds of the New Testament. And, he figured in the telling of about half of the book of Acts. But, nowhere do we see Jesus' response to the men waiting in the Upper Room.
All we know was Jesus said wait. The only action they took was to vote on a replacement for Judas. This is neither commanded, nor rebuked, but simply a human decision based on a desire to speed their interpretation of Scripture. They wanted to see his post taken by another. And, they drew straws. Though not considered right or wrong, the action showed impatience when told to simply wait.
Acts 1:13-14 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
*****
Heads bent together, the four slender girls stumbled along the road, so lost in a discussion that they really were not watching where they were going. They were sisters, and the children of a prophet. Their father, Philip was chosen as a Deacon by the early church in Jerusalem, one of the seven deacons. There had been death threats. It was no surprise that they were concerned about the safety of their father. But, their father was not the subject of conversation on this trip to the temple. As they approached the Golden Gate, the beauty went unnoticed, as well as the lovely sunrise peeking over the horizon, which gave it that golden glow.
"A sad state of affairs it is for our people when the men folk are all in hiding!" the youngest of these young ladies exclaimed.
"I don't think you fully understand the nature of a death threat, Sister." Her eldest sister chided her calmly. "Besides, God has a plan, and I know he is thinking about His people. He promised in the prophecies of Joel that He would send a 'former and a latter rain' to bless us with His bounty."
"Yes, piped up the nearest the youngest in years." All we have to do is plant the seed, and God will send the Autumn rains first to make it sprout, and then in the Spring, the Spring rains He send make the harvest a bounty of providence."
The remaining sister listened quietly, seeming to ponder these words. She didn't know how to ask the question that was sitting so heavily on her heart. She was puzzled over the fact that the Messiah had been crucified, and resurrected, and then had ascended back into the clouds, just like that. So she just listened, as they were jostled in the crowds coming and going.
"But, God promised He would 'drive away the Northern armies.' Why do these Romans continue to plague us?! Oh, how could God be so late in sending us the hope we've waited for? Why did Jesus leave again, if He was resurrected from the grave? When will we ever see the throne of David raised again in the Temple! Why must it take so long?!" protested the youngest child again.
These four young girls had a reputation for being prophetesses, yet something missed their vision even more than the Scripture they were mulling over at the moment. Suddenly, the silent one found herself flung out on the pavement there at the gate. Dazed, and not yet aware of what had happened, she tried to focus her eyes on the scene around her again, and then she realized it was just the crippled beggar who lay at the gate. She had fallen over his feet and knocked over his hat full of coins in her carelessness.
Scurrying onto her knees, with her robes wrapped tightly around her, she began to clasp after the coins as they rolled across the pavement, muttering repeated apologies. Her sisters around her pulled her to her feet without saying a word, for now they had been shocked into silence. There sat the poor beggar just as calmly as if nothing had happened. He had not felt a thing anyways, seeing that his legs were paralyzed. But, he had been just as taken by surprise by them as they had by him. He had heard their approach, but was so engrossed in their argument that he sat there aghast at the things they were saying. They were such innocent looking young Jewish girls arguing about the prophecies of the scrolls! And, they were talking about Jesus, the Healer. What did they know about Jesus or a Messiah? They were not even allowed into the inner sanctuary, but were kept behind the wall of partition for the women. How could they speak such things so boldly? Didn't they know the Romans had crucified this Jesus, and that they had the power to dispel these 'stories' of His resurrection?
The eldest girl reached into the folds of her robes, withdrew the few coins she had, and tossed them into the man's hat. Then with a humble bow, and diverting her stare, she gathered her sisters through the gate. But, glancing back over her shoulder, she noticed he still sat there as if nothing had even happened. Turning again to her sisters, she reminded them of the hour. "It's the hour of prayer, come on now, hurry! All of these questions will just have to wait!"
*****
Deep in prayer, walking in short steps around the perimeter of the crowded room, the man cried out desperately to His God. "Jesus, where are you?! You said we should wait, but we have been waiting ten days in this tiny room. The men are afraid to come and go. We cower like dogs, and have no vision for what we should do next. I don't know why you chose me. Am I not a fisherman, an uneducated fisherman? What will you have me to do?"
As he passed the doorway, he heard the shuffling of feet on the stairs. His heart skipped a beat as he heard the knock at the door. But, the voice of Philip's oldest girl came softly through the wall. It was the four of them returning from the Temple. He was amazed that some of the women continued to come and go; to the market to fetch their meals, to the well to haul water, and to the Temple to pray. Yes, it was about 9:00 in the morning already, and here they were returning. As he unbarred the door, they slipped inside and took up their spots with the others in the vigil. He noticed the younger child take up her harp, and she began to strum softly the words of David.
...The LORD said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand,
...until I make your enemies your footstool.
...The LORD will extend your powerful kingdom from Jerusalem;
...you will rule over your enemies.
...Your people are willing
...in the day of your power,
...in the beauty of holiness
...from the womb of the morning
...your strength will renew us each day like the morning dew.
...The LORD has sworn, and will not relent, You are a priest forever, Jesus...
A hush fell over the room as the words and music of the child faded and the sunlight, now climbing in the sky, flooded through the darkened window. It was a holy hush. An unseen hand seemed to lay gently on every stooped shoulder. A sigh wrenched loose from Mother Mary. John fell flat on his face, prostrate in the floor. But no one seemed to take notice of his brother. Peter suddenly broke into a mad dash around the room, and the others were waving their arms toward heaven as the Spirit of God was poured out in their hearts and souls. The visible, tangible presence of God was so real, you could almost touch it. The room was suddenly in such a passionate fervor that it seemed like tongues of fire rested over their heads. Everyone in the room began to praise God and speak in languages they had never learned.
The men were the first ones out the door of the crowded room. They danced down the steps and out into the streets which were bustling with the mid-morning festival crowds of the Pentecost Feast celebrating the giving of the Ten Commandments. Some called this Whit's Sunday. But, the locals were taken by surprise by the surge of the Apostles out into the streets, shouting in gibberish. Some of them exclaimed that these were apparently celebrating the holiday too hard and were drunk. But, others recognized their own foreign languages coming from the mouths of these worshipers, and realized they were speaking different tongues.
Peter gathered the other 11 disciples together and, like any anointed young preacher without a pulpit will preach wherever he can find a crowd, he began to preach right there on the street corner.
"Men, brothers, we are not drunk on wine. It's not even late enough in the day for men to be drinking yet. This is the promise that God gave us in the Scriptures, in the prophecies of Joel. Joel said that God would pour out His Holy Spirit on all people, and our sons and daughters would prophesy, and our young men would see visions, and our old men would dream dreams. He promised signs and wonders would follow, and that whoever shall call on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Peter preached on with the sun beating down on his back, on into the afternoon. Sweat poured from his forehead, as he danced in the Spirit, calling on each person in the crowd to come to pray. One by one, the men in the crowd came forward and fell on their knees before the Apostles asking what to do about their sin. Peter stood up and gave the answer...
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
By the time the day had ended, three thousand of them had been baptized. But, more than that, the long awaited power that Jesus had promised had now been given. No more did they cower in a hidden room. No, these men of God were emboldened to preach the word without fear. Just as Jesus had promised, "But you shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. "
***Notes- Scripture References as follows:
The Harp Song Psalm 110:1-4 (NKJV+NLT mixed)
Peter's answer Acts 2:38,
Jesus' parting promise Acts 1:8
Acts 2:1-2 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
*****
Carried! His Mother had carried him nine months, and for the four decades since, he had been carried by most of his relatives at different times. He was gaunt, and lean, never having much interest in the festivities and meal times. He spent all day, every day, laying outside the temple, watching people. Food was the last thing on his mind when he got home. When the table was spread, even before his mother had the food finished, he talked, filling her ears with all the busyness of the city and the temple. Her eyes twinkled as she busied herself with the evening meal, listening to the animated voice of her firstborn, the family story teller. She loved him so, and would have carried him till the day he died if he needed her.
He enjoyed this attention, reveled in it. He loved to hear the sound of his voice, to see her eyes dart toward him intent on each word, to hear her catch her breath in surprise at some surprising bit of his stories. He always felt no one really listened to him at the temple gate. God-fearers! They seemed to be more afraid to meet the gaze of a scrawny crippled man, than of the God they professed to revere! No, they were careful to not look into his eyes and see his pain, for then they might have to hear his voice crying out for alms. They may even have to ante up on the challenge of their faith. That might be too much religion for them, he was sure.
Turning his head toward to gate, he noticed that a crowd was gathering, and the sun reminded him that it was almost the hour of prayer. Collecting his hat in his wispy, twisted fingers, he noted that he had been remiss in calling out for much of the past hour as he daydreamed. With an exasperated voice, he began a desperate call, intending to make up for lost time in the rush hour crowd. “Alms, alms! Help me please kind lady! Sir, throw a cent for a poor beggar like myself! Dear family, has God blessed you? Then share with the likes of me! Help me, please!” No one seemed to be paying him any attention at all, and they scurried past the faster. So, he called out even louder. “Alms, please, alms! Help me! I am but a poor beggar! Look at me… take pity! Lend me your hearts. Alms, please…please sir!”
With those last words, the beggar had felt the swish of a man’s cloak as he stopped in his tracks, and turned toward him. Finally! Someone was listening to him. Looking deep into the kind man’s eyes, the beggar smiled and held out his hat in his left hand, expecting to receive a gift. “Look at us! I have nothing made out of silver or gold, but I will give you what I have… in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk!”
Then the man did the strangest thing, right there in front of his friend and the others who had paused to see the exchange. He reached out his right hand to the crippled beggar. As their fingers touched, the crippled man felt a surge of power course straight through his body to the soles of his feet. His hat fell to the ground, coins rolling across the pavement and landing at the feet of people who were by this point standing stark still, motionless with their mouths open! Suddenly, his feet and ankles felt strong…stronger than they had ever felt in his life.
Leaping up, as if on the end of a taught strand of cord, he stood straight upright, walked three steps forward as the giver stepped back, and bending at the knees he leaped… sling-shotted into the air. Landing on one foot, he broke into a mad dash before the other ever hit the ground. Running from one side of the courtyard to the other, he slapped several folks on the back, threw his arms around the necks of others, and spun them around before dancing off across the courtyard again… around and around he ran in circles. The crowd that had gathered now was laughing, as his joy contagiously coursed through them. Had they not seen him day after day? Was this not the lame man who sat at the gates begging for his keep?
A surge of shock was rippling through the crowd, as the news spread to those who were already inside the temple. “It’s the lame man…you know… the beggar by the gate… he’s walking!” The words reverberated through the temple courtyard, and penetrated deep into the temple, where some who heard could not believe their ears. It was the religious teachers and leaders of the temple. They debated among themselves what was to be done about the fact that the miracles were not over with; had not died with the Healer.
Meanwhile, the beggar had wrapped his arms around the givers, for they were two of the disciples of Jesus, Peter and John themselves. As he hugged them, and cried for joy, they led him towards the temple, laughing for joy. By the time they got as far as Solomon’s Porch, a crowd was thronging them, with everyone aghast at the miracle they had just witnessed. It was too much to believe. They had known this man for more than forty years… they knew his family. He was crippled!
The young preacher Peter realized that people were shocked at the sight of a man healed with such miraculous explosive power, and began to explain how he had not been the one at all to heal him…Jesus had healed the man. Jesus was no longer dead. He had arisen, and his power had been given to his followers to heal the sick. As he preached, to the crowds, several ladies were beginning to come back out of the court of the women to see what was happening. Among them were the four daughters of Phillip, and the ladies from “the Way.” Hours passed as the men preached, and many were converted to the faith. Then the religious teachers and leaders of the temple came out of the temple, and insisted that the crowd be broken up. Hearing with their own ears the name of Jesus, that terrorist rebel they themselves had crucified just weeks before, they seized the young preachers and hauled them off to spend the night in jail. But, the men of the young movement gathered together another 5,000 believers from the crowds that day.
One of those was the beggar, a changed man! He ran all the way home to tell his family the good news. And, who knows what great work he did for the kingdom of God, after experiencing the dynamite power of Jesus Christ in his hand, and feet, and heart, and health?!
***Notes: Related Scriptures used to build the telling.
Joel 2:23 Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he has given you the former rain faithfully, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. (NKJV)
Acts 3:25 You are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. (NKJV)
Acts 21:8-9 The next day we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen to distribute food. He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy. (NLT)
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (NKJV)
